The Orlando Magic inducted Shaquille O’Neal into the franchise’s Hall of Fame Friday, and ever the politician, O’Neal made the claim that he regrets leaving the Magic after his first four seasons in the NBA to chase titles with the Lakers in 1996.

O’Neal, then a 24-year superstar free agent center, balked at Orlando’s initial lowball offer and took the Lakers’ $121 million and moved to Hollywood.

Shaq, hindsight being what it is, says he should’ve stuck around and tried to build a title-winner in Orlando.

Per the Orlando Sentinel:

“Knowing what I know now, I would’ve stayed,” O’Neal said. “I would’ve stayed and fulfilled my seven years and then looked at it differently after my seventh year.”

“We came back later and beat the Lakers’ offer at the closing minutes,” said Magic co-founder and Magic Hall of Famer Pat Williams. “But, emotionally, Shaq was gone.” [...] “It was all business,” O’Neal said. “Do I regret it? I never fully answered. I regret it sometimes. This is where I started, where I should’ve stayed. I actually wish that they [had] made it a law that whoever drafted you, you’ve got to stay there your whole career. No trades. No nothing. No free agency. No anything like that. Do I regret it? I regret it only because the DeVos family, they deserve a couple [of NBA titles].”

“I just wish I would’ve had more patience,” O’Neal revealed. “It was all about I wanted to be protected from the bashing. What I mean by that [is] I wanted to win then. Even when I got there [to L.A.], I still got bashed and it still took four years to win. But I was very impatient. I was very young, and I thought that if I go there with those guys out there, that I could win right away. And that wasn’t the case. [...] So now that I’m older now, I wish as a youngster, I wish I had had more patience.”

Gallo’s career-best performance included 12-of-21 shooting from the field, 7 rebounds an four assists.

Gallinari’s previous season-high was 26 points earlier this month against the Milwaukee Bucks.

Per the Denver Post:

“It was one of those nights where the basket looks like a swimming pool,” said Gallinari, who sat out the Nuggets’ loss Friday in Miami.

When his final 3-pointer swished through with 8:53 left in the fourth, he surpassed his previous career high of 39 points set at Dallas in December 2012. [...] “That was the biggest thing for me tonight,” said Jameer Nelson, the longtime Magic standout back in his old haunts. “Not too many guys can give you 40 points in an NBA game. He’s been hot; he’s been shooting the heck out of the ball.”

“They were really motivated,” Nuggets interim coach Melvin Hunt said. “We wanted to sweep the state of Florida, and we dropped that one to Miami. The guys really wanted to make up for it and, boy, did they make up for it.”

Harrington will continue working as an assistant to Denver Nuggets interim head coach Melvin Hunt, and says he’s at peace with his playing career coming to an end.

Harrington spent 56 days this season with the Fujian Sturgeonsof the Chinese Basketball Association — he played with seven NBA teams, most notably the Indiana Pacers through seven seasons and reached the Eastern Conference Finals in 2004.

Per the Denver Post:

“I’m officially retired,” Harrington said. “I don’t know if there’s paperwork that I gotta fill out or anything. But my career is over.”

He’ll be known for a number of things, the least of which was being one of the first true success stories of the prep-to-pros era. A first-round pick of the Indiana Pacers in 1998, he’d only begun playing organized basketball four years earlier for St. Patrick High School in Elizabeth, N.J.

“I’m very happy with what I was able to accomplish,” Harrington said. “I was able to change a lot of people’s lives in my family, including myself in a game that I eventually fell in love with and will always be in love with. And hopefully I can stay around the game until I die. It was a fun ride. It went by fast, too. It was like one minute I was 18, the next I was 25 then was 30 and now I’m 35. It was a fun run. Met a lot of great people.”

The 38-year-old, 3-time NBA All-Star was onstage with the Sauce Twinz — a Houston rap duo — when someone crept up on the unsuspecting Francis and tried to rip his gold chain right off his neck.

Problem is … the chain didn’t pop — and Francis was dragged down to the floor where the culprit continued to yank on the necklace while the discombobulated NBA star tried to figure out what was going on.

Sources tell us the guy ended up removing the chain from Francis and booked it. […] We’re also told police were NOT called to the scene.

The Orlando Magic are—finally—close to making a coaching change. According to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports, Orlando’s management is ready to replace head coach Jacque Vaughn, who, despite being in his third season with the Magic, has yet to turn his team into a competitive one.

The Orlando Magic are close to firing coach Jacque Vaughn and a change could come soon, league sources told Yahoo Sports.

As embarrassing losses accumulate, Vaughn is rapidly running out of time to show the progress needed to make it through the next several days – never mind the fourth and final year of his contract in 2015-’16, league sources told Yahoo Sports.

“It isn’t a matter of ‘if,’ anymore, but ‘when,’” a source close to the decision-making process told Yahoo Sports about Vaughn’s fading job security.

After a 115-100 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks at Amway Arena on Thursday night – the 13th loss in the past 15 games – the Orlando Sentinel reported that the Magic “haven’t ruled out making an in-season coaching change.”

The Magic are 15-34 and have free-fallen into 13th place in the East, and while there was no mandate to make the postseason this year, there was an expectation that Vaughn needed to compete into April for a spot in the playoffs.

This is Vaughn’s third year as the Magic’s coach. Orlando exercised the fourth-year option on Vaughn’s contract over the summer, guaranteeing his salary for the 2015-’16 season.

In fact, the lack of a natural candidate to promote to interim head coach from a young, inexperienced staff of assistants has played a part in Orlando management’s hesitancy to have already made a change, sources told Yahoo Sports.

Management has been evaluating Vaughn closely in recent weeks, and played a part in pushing him to play a faster tempo based on the youth and athleticism of the roster, league sources said.

Vaughn is 58-154 in his career. The Magic are far from a juggernaut, but with players like Elfrid Payton, Nikola Vucevic, Tobias Harris and Victor Oladipo, should be playing at a higher level than they are. One has to wonder, though, if Rob Hennigan, the team’s general manager, is on alert now, too.

This is the first 20-point, 20-assist performance since 2009; the Pistons have won 12 of their last 15 ballgames.

Per the Detroit News:

Jennings began the night with five assists on the first five offensive possessions, and kept his big men fed and satisfied offensively all night, as Andre Drummond scored 15 of his game-high 26 in the second half and Greg Monroe scored 24.

“Once I got in the lane and I knew I could get in the lane all night, I could pick my poison,” Jennings said. “Guys are getting easy shots, making easy shots. It’s one of those nights.”

He wouldn’t call it the best game of his career, as the sterling 55-point performance he put up as a rookie still takes that honor. [...] “Fifty-five in three quarters, that’s tough. I don’t know what I was on that night,” Jennings said. “But 20-20, that’s pretty killer. Fifty-five in three (quarters) as a rookie? Nah!”

The Dunk Contest is the final and showcase event of All-Star Saturday night Feb. 14 at the Barclays Center in New York:

Antetokounmpo and Oladipo have emerged as the two most dynamic players from the 2013 draft class and separated themselves with their ability to play above the rim.

Antetokounmpo, known as the “Greek Freak,” is 6-foot-11 with long arms and massive hands, and has built a cult following for the Elastic Man quality to his dunks. Oladipo has been fast developing as a star for the Magic, and LaVine, 19, has a 44-inch vertical leap.

Plumlee high-jumped 6-8 in high school and was the runner-up in the McDonald’s High School All-American game dunk contest.

Charlotte was enjoying a five-game win streak until it came face-to-face with the defending champion Spurs on Wednesday night.

Manu Ginobili shot 10-14 from the field for 27 points in 24 minutes as San Antonio dismantled the Hornets. The sixth man also added 3 steals. At 38 years old, Tim Duncan is a legitimate candidate for Defensive Player of the Year; the Big Fundamental posted 14 points, 10 rebounds, 2 steals and 3 blocks in the five-point win. Danny Green added 18 points including 3-7 from beyond the arc. The Hornets drew within one point with four minutes remaining but Manu was simply too difficult to stop. Kemba Walker (28 points, 3 blocks) and Bismack Biyombo (12 points, 15 rebounds, 5 blocks) were bright spots for Charlotte. Lance Stephenson (8 points in 19 minutes) returned to the floor after missing 14 games with a pelvic strain. San Antonio is still without 2014 Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard, absent since Dec. 15 with a torn ligament in his hand. PJ Hairston earns bonehead of the night honors with the following flop…absurdity:

Magic (15-27) 120, Rockets (27-12) 113

Dwight Howard dropped 23 points and 8 rebounds, but his former squad got the last laugh; Orlando’s young nucleus nabbed a seven-point victory to snap Houston’s four-game win streak. Victor Oladipo (32 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals) had his second straight 30+ scoring game—he’s the heart of this inexperienced yet immensely talented Orlando team. Nikola Vucevic is a machine at this point, so it’s no surprise that he went for 25 points, 12 rebounds and 3 steals. He leads the NBA in double-doubles with 24 on the season.

The game was neck-and-neck until rookie PG Elfrid Payton (15 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals) broke out of his slump for a clutch fourth quarter. He shot 4-4 and dished out two dimes—one of which was a pass to Oladipo for a 360 nail-in-the-coffin dunk—in the final period to propel Orlando to its 15th win. The Rockets made costly mistakes down the stretch which led to their downfall despite 26 points, 10 assists and 5 steals from their stalwart shooting guard James Harden.

Grizzlies (27-11) 103, Nets (16-23) 92

NBA frontcourts must dread seeing Memphis on the schedule due to the Grizz’ dynamic duo of Z-Bo (20 points, 14 rebounds) and Marc Gasol (18 points, 8 rebounds). There’s no denying that Brooklyn’s Mason Plumlee (15 points, 9 rebounds) had a solid game, but he was outplayed and overmatched.

The Nets have now dropped seven straight games as head coach Lionel Hollins fell to his former team. They missed Kevin Garnett’s toughness against the Grizzlies’ Grit-N-Grind style of play on Wednesday night. The Big Ticket was serving a one-game suspension for head-butting Dwight Howard on Monday. BK is also still without the injured Deron Williams. Tony Allen (13 points, 2 steals) and Courtney Lee (18 points, 3-4 from beyond the arc) were instrumental in the win. Gasol had the assist of the night:

Pelicans (19-19) 105, Pistons (14-25) 94

The Pistons have been the talk of the league since waiving Josh Smith, forming a “f*cking wall” and stringing together an impressive number of wins. That talk was muted a bit last night at the Palace of Auburn Hills, as Anthony Davis did Anthony Davis things and the Pelicans improved to .500 on the season. The Brow put up 27 points, 10 rebounds and 4 blocks, Tyreke Evans approached a triple double with 18 points, 9 dimes and 8 rebounds and Ryan Anderson added 17 points in the win.

This one was never close. New Orleans led 58-36 at the half and didn’t look back. The Pels dominated Detroit 47-30 on the glass as the Pistons seemed to lack energy. Greg Monroe (16 points, 8 boards, 5 assists) and Brandon Jennings (19 points) played well but the team looked out of sync as a whole.

Raptors (26-12) 100, Sixers (7-31) 84

Toronto fans, rejoice: DeMar DeRozan is baaack!

The sixth-year shooting guard shot 9-14 from the floor and scored 20 points in his return as the Raptors easily handled the lowly Sixers. Kyle Lowry continues to impress; his 18 points, 12 assists, 7 rebounds and 3 steals were a big reason for T. Dot’s 26th win. Amir Johnson added 10 points and 16 boards, getting the best of Philadelphia’s Nerlens Noel (12 points, 8 rebounds, 3 steals). Michael Carter-Williams (29 points, 7 rebounds, 2 steals), whose name has been involved in trade talks, carried the load offensively for the Sixers. Leading scorer Tony Wroten sprained his knee on Tuesday and, as a result, didn’t make the trip to the 6.

Wizards (27-12) 105, Bulls (26-14) 99

Wizards-Bulls is quickly becoming one of the more exciting Eastern Conference matchups to watch. They faced off in the 2014 Playoffs and have now played each other closely three times in ’14-15. The individual matchups—Wall-Rose, Beal-Butler, Gortat-Noah—are especially intriguing each time these squads meet.

DC got the best of Chi-town at home this past Friday and Wednesday’s game resulted similarly, as John Wall (21 points, 9 assists, 2 steals) continued his career year and savvy vet Paul Pierce (22 points, 6 rebounds) came up big in crunch time. Washington beat San Antonion on Tuesday night but showed no signs of fatigue in the second outing of a challenging back-to-back. Chicago led at halftime thanks to Derrick Rose’s 20 points, but Washington took control throughout the final two quarters to best the Bulls. Bradley Beal (17 points, 6 assists) looked like the best SG on the floor on a night when Jimmy Butler (13 points, 4 steals) failed to find his shot. Nene’s uncharacteristic contribution in the assist department—the big Brazilian dropped 8 dimes—was huge. Joakim Noah left the game in the closing seconds of the first half after rolling his ankle. He wouldn’t return.

Hawks (31-8) 105, Celtics (13-24) 91

The Atlanta Hawks aren’t flashy. None of their players have commercial spots. No one on the roster can leap out of the gym.

…And? The Hawks simply go about their business, play quality basketball and stack wins to the tune of the league’s best in-game musical accompaniment. The ATLiens have now won 10 straight—the first time that’s happened in 17 years. They took care of a talent-depleted Celtics team on Wednesday night thanks to a combined 62 points from Paul Millsap, DeMarre Carroll and Jeff Teague. Sharpshooter Kyle Korver took the night off.

Nuggets (18-20) 114, Mavericks (27-13) 107

Ty Lawson posted 29/12/5 to carry the Nuggets over Dallas. Kenneth Faried chipped in with 22 points and 14 rebounds while Wilson Chandler contributed 15/10/6. The Mavs boasted 8 players in double figures—none scored above 15, and five of those players came off the bench—but Denver improved to 18-20 on the year. Dallas was short-handed as head coach Rick Carlisle rested Dirk Nowitzki, Rajon Rondo and Tyson Chandler. Richard Jefferson provided a blast from the past with 16 points and 6 boards. JJ Barea had 17 and 6. The highlight of the home telecast occurred when injured Nugget Danilo Gallinari took over the play-by-play:

Warriors (31-5) 104, Heat (17-22) 89

Aside from Chris Bosh (26 points, 7 assists), the Heat struggle to find the cup when Dwyane Wade is out of the lineup. Flash’s hamstring injury meant other players had to step up against the NBA’s best team. Luol Deng did his job—surpassing his season averages for 19 points and 7 rebounds—but it’s extremely difficult to overcome the absence of a future HOF shooting guard when you’re going up against Steph Curry. The baby-faced assassin torched Miami for 32 points in a Warriors rout at Oracle Arena. Klay Thompson added 19. Golden State is now 13-0 against the Eastern Conference. There was a cool moment when Heat rookie Tyler Johnson, who attended the Warriors’ basketball camp growing up, made two free throws at the end of the game for his first career points.

Clippers (26-13) 100, Blazers (30-9) 94

Jamal Crawford is as tough a cover as anyone in the league when he’s got it going.

The Blazers learned that the hard way at home, as Crawford dropped 25 points—including 22 on contested jumpers—and the Clips eclipsed Portland in a down-to-the-wire affair. LaMarcus Aldridge (22 first half-points, 37 and 12 rebounds on the night) was dominant throughout, but it took until the fourth quarter for Damian Lillard to catch fire. After scoring just 3 points the first three quarters, Damian Lillard put up 12 in the fourth. However, LAC’s sixth man was just as hot in the game’s final period. Blake Griffin (18 points, 3 steals) and DeAndre Jordan (17 points, 18 rebounds) were forces in the paint. Per usual, Chris Paul (23 points, 10 rebounds) was calm, cool and collected with the game up for grabs down the stretch. CP3 did a terrific job of defending Lillard for the first 36 minutes of action. The highlight of the night came in the second quarter, when Crawford made Steve Blake look silly:

“We made great plays and we played fast,” Oladipo said. “That’s why we had a lot of assists. We’ve got to play like that all the time, and it’s got to be a consistent thing no matter what happens. Win or lose, that’s our identity now. That’s the way we play.”

“That was great, man,” Magic point guard Elfrid Payton said (about the dunk over Gasol.) “I didn’t know he was that athletic. I was so happy. I usually never show emotion, and I even got a little riled up.”

“Some of the plays before, I missed a couple of shots,” Vucevic said. “I just wanted to get up there and try to finish as strong as I can. I got up high enough. I just wanted to dunk it. It was a good play for our team, and obviously I don’t do it pretty often. So I tried to do a little surprise with my dunk.”

Elfrid Payton can envision his perfect day. It involves a morning spent in bed, an afternoon filled with funny movies while lazing on the couch, and evening of dominating his friends at video games. Today, the last Thursday before the start of his NBA career, is far from perfect.

Early this a.m., Payton, a long and lean point guard who was selected 10th overall in the 2014 NBA Draft by the Philadelphia 76ers before being traded to the Orlando Magic, had practice. After that, he got dressed up and attended a mandatory lunch with the team’s owners. Once the glad-handing wrapped, he ran to an afternoon-long interview with a magazine. From there, he was whisked away to an event with fans at a local car dealership. He didn’t make it home until well into the night.

Despite the grueling day of work, the 20-year-old Payton is not mad. After all, he’s not supposed to be here.

“I do kinda represent those people who are always told that they’ll never make it,” says Payton. “I’m proof that you’ve got to continue to believe in yourself and work until people realize and open their eyes.”

If a lot of NBA players overcome a mountain worth of obstacles to reach the League, Payton had to hurdle Everest to make it. Growing up in Gretna, LA, which is shadowed by nearby New Orleans, the only son of Danielle and Elfrid Sr. did his best to avoid the not uncommon drug- and gang-related traps that ensnared many in his neighborhood. While Payton can’t pinpoint the exact reason why he made it out of Gretna unscathed, he thinks it has to do with his close-knit household and a love for sports.

“My support group kept me away from negativity,” says Payton. He grew up in a house with both of his parents and five sisters. “And sports was another outlet that helped me stay away from things like that.”

“Sports kept him away from a lot of that,” affirms Elfrid Sr., who was a standout player in the Canadian Football League, and is every bit as talkative as his son is quiet. “Me being in his life helped steer him away from that, too.”

To be fair, a lot of Payton’s peers in the NBA were forged through similar upbringings. The difference is, though, that many of them were identified as basketball savants early in life and were then helped by a cadre of coaches and professionals. Payton, on the other hand, was never really ranked by any major scouting service and received collegiate scholarship offers from only Xavier University of Louisiana and the University of Louisiana, Lafayette.

“We started him in school early,” says Sr., who notes that Elfrid should have been a junior in high school when he was a senior, “so he hadn’t developed physically enough for a lot of the schools.”

Nevertheless, what originally appeared as a curse became a blessing. Payton flourished at Louisiana-Lafayette. As a freshman, while adjusting to school and honing his game at the school’s sparse facilities, Payton started 11 games. As a sophomore, he averaged 15.9 ppg, 5.5 apg, 5.6 rpg and was named First-Team All-Sun Belt. That summer, Payton was a surprise selection to USA’s U-19 National Team.

“A lot of people thought I didn’t belong there,” says Payton. “Coming from a small school, they didn’t even think I should be in the tryout. But you know, I went out there and played well, made the team and was able to stand out.”

This past season, as a junior, Payton upped his averages to 19.2 ppg, 5.9 and and 6.0 rpg. His two-way efforts were finally noticed by the nation, as he was named the Defensive Player of the Year. Months later, after stellar workouts for NBA teams, the rangy righty, whose shock of hair was still more well-known than his explosive first step, went 10th in the Draft. “I can’t credit anything but hard work,” says Payton.

In a sense, Payton has already made it. He has an apartment with a view of the Orlando sky, a car that can play Lil Wayne loud enough to crack cement and a spot in the Magic’s starting lineup. Still, after being slept on his entire life, Payton has a deep desire to elevate even higher.

“You stay hungry by wanting to be the best,” says Payton. You stay hungry until everybody knows and can say that you’re the best—and I want to be one of the greatest to ever play.”

Tzvi Twersky is a Contributing Editor at SLAM and the Head of Basketball at Stance Socks. Follow him on Twitter @ttwersky. Portrait by Carlos Amoedo.

The Warriors, to a man, admitted they were exceedingly lucky to beat the Orlando Magic on Tuesday night to preserve a winning streak that has now reached 10, one shy of tying the franchise record.

Curry, who was as listed as questionable with a left ankle sprain coming into the game, was unquestionably magical down the stretch, canning a pair of 3-pointers in a 9-0 run that brought the Warriors back from a 94-85 deficit with 4:05 left into a 93-all tie with 2:18 to go. Klay Thompson, who was also questionable with a right quad strain, actually hit the game-tying 3-point shot.

Did he know it was down when he left his hand? […] “Every shooter will tell you that unless it’s really bad, you have pretty high confidence that it’s going in,” said Curry, who led the Warriors with 22 points. “That was the case with that one.”

The Magic had just 11 assists through the game’s first three quarters.

Per the Orlando Sentinel:

“Yeah, they made shots, but we don’t lose the game like that,” Magic shooting guard Evan Fournier said. “We lose the game because we played selfish. We don’t move the ball. We’re just standing and looking at each other. We have to play better than that. If we keep playing like that, we’re not going to win any game.”

“We haven’t played together too much,” forward Tobias Harris said. “But numbers don’t lie. Results don’t lie. When we move that basketball from side-to-side and when we play together, we’ve been successful. And I don’t know why, but we keep deferring from that, and that’s the most disappointing part of it. […] But when we play together, not just offensively, when we play defensively and we’re pulling for each other on the defensive end, we win basketball games. And, tonight, we got away from that.”

“It’s not easy,” guard Victor Oladipo said. “They did a great job defensively on switching. They did a great job defending. They were scrappy. They just played well overall. […] We couldn’t move the ball. It’s hard to move the ball when, one, there’s no spacing and then, two, the defense is switching. So you’re going to move the ball, and by the time you move the ball and you look up, there’s five seconds left or eight seconds left on the shot clock. People who see it and watch it from afar are like, ‘Oh, the ball is stagnant.’ But, in reality, if you’re out there, you realize you’re going to keep moving it until the shot clock runs out. Then, what are we going to do?”

Evan Fournier is having a breakout season as a starter for the Orlando Magic. After increasing his minutes from 11.3 as a rookie in 2012, to 19.8 a year ago with the Denver Nuggets, Fournier has earned not only trust, but also 34.1 minutes per night from head coach Jacque Vaughn in Orlando.

Since joining the Magic this summer in exchange for Arron Afflalo, Fournier has responded to his new role with a career best average of 16.5 points. His 45.5 percent mark from three-point range is also the 11th best number in the League heading into Wednesday’s matchup with the Golden State Warriors.

The skilled and efficient 6-7 shooting guard is proving capable of not only scoring in multiple ways, but also helping to lead a rebuilding effort alongside a collection of young talent. With Fournier (16.5), Victor Oladipo (13.6), Nikola Vucevic (19.3) and Tobias Harris (18.8), the Magic feature four players between the ages of 22 and 24 who combine to average 68.1 points this season. That’s encouraging for Orlando fans, even if Monday’s 32-point loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers was one to forget.

Fournier’s personal streak of 14 straight games in double-figures this season ended at the hands of LeBron James, Kevin Love, Kyrie Irving and the Cavaliers. The 22-year-old from Saint-Maurice, France was limited to only 8 points on a rough night shooting for his entire team. James, meanwhile, was simply dominant while ensuring the Cavs snapped a four-game losing streak by securing a win they desperately needed.

“We just got smacked,” Fournier told SLAM, following Orlando’s 106-74 loss at Quicken Loans Arena. “We just have to look forward now. LeBron is a champ. LeBron is LeBron. They lost four-straight, so we knew he would play very hard tonight. And that’s what he did. We just have to look forward now to the next one.”

James opened the first quarter against Fournier and the Magic by matching the 16 points Orlando totaled as a team for the period. He went on to finish with 29 to go along with 11 assists and 4 rebounds, while leading the Cavs to a 32-point victory over a short-handed Magic club playing without the injured Harris (calf strain).

As a team, Orlando shot only 36.3 percent from the field for the game and 29.4 percent from three. Vaughn, and Fournier—who finished 2-9—understand there will be nights like this in the NBA. Just don’t expect their confidence in the overall mission, or each other, to waver when hit with a LeBron-sized haymaker.

“He’s 22 years old, and he’s just getting a feel of playing 30-some minutes per game for an NBA team,” Vaughn said of Fournier. “His role has been expanded with us, as far as having the basketball in his hands. I think he’s still learning his teammates. You can still see that on the floor while we’re playing. But he’s taken an opportunity to be very efficient for us. Whether that’s shooting the basketball, or having the basketball in his hands.”

The confidence Vaughn has demonstrated in Fournier has been critical in his ability to capitalize on his new opportunity. The 20th pick of the 2012 Draft now knows if he misses three, or five, or seven shots in a given night—like he just did in Cleveland—his head coach will allow him to play through those growing pains.

“It’s easy to play when you have confidence from your coaches and your teammates,” Fournier said. “So it’s just a great feeling to be able to play my game, and play through mistakes. It’s a great feeling; I’m playing with a lot of confidence right now.”

Fournier insists that he didn’t do anything outside of his traditional preparation this summer to help increase his production, either. His improvement is more directly tied to the leadership from Vaughn and the chance he now has in Orlando.

“I didn’t do anything crazy,” Fournier said, when asked if he attributes his play to a new training regimen this offseason. “I just played all summer long with the French National Team. So I got better through that. But I didn’t do anything unusual. It’s just been about the opportunity.”

What makes Orlando intriguing is its core of young talent all getting that same opportunity together. As this group continues to grow, the Magic could eventually emerge as a perennial playoff team in the next couple years—a possibility obviously not lost on Orlando fans.

“I think everybody is excited about this team around town,” Fournier said of the hometown fans he’ll return to play in front of on Wednesday against Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and the Warriors. “We feel that energy and appreciate it. We are very young, but we’re still competitive. So I think the whole city is excited for us. We think can do something big in the future, and that’s really exciting.”

Watching the player who first turned pro at 17 with JSF Nanterre in France begin to establish himself as an NBA starter is similarly exciting for fans around the League. It’s also somewhat scary to think that the same player who grew up rooting for Mike Bibby won’t turn 23 until next season.

“My favorite player was Mike Bibby growing up,” Fournier added. “But you know, another guy I always liked is Manu. He’s about the same size as me, the same physical skills. He’s a guy, as a young player, I’ve always looked up to and tried to learn from.”

After losing his second of four straight to Manu and the San Antonio Spurs on November 19, James exited the arena on Monday with a message that Orlando would also echo.

“A win always makes things feel better,” James told the media after the game. “But we still have a lot of work to do.”

There is still plenty of work for Fournier and Orlando, too. They know that. But even if the losses feel bitter now, there’s reason to believe that wins will eventually follow so long as this group stays together.

“LeBron James is the greatest player that I’ve ever coached and I’ve ever seen,” Blatt said Monday, prior to the Cavaliers’ home game against the Orlando Magic, when asked if he agreed with James’ critical assessment of himself from earlier in the day.

“And he’s a man and a fine man, and I don’t pay a lot of attention to what’s being said and not being said,” Blatt said. “Every day I wake up and I say thank goodness I get a chance to coach that guy. And I say to myself every day that I got a do a better job coaching that guy and help him to be everything that he is.”

James averaged 18.5 points in Cleveland’s four losses last week – his lowest point total over a four-game stretch in three seasons — and is second in the league in turnovers. He also noticeably sulked and missed some defensive assignments in the last two games.

The fourth pick in last June’s NBA Draft suffered the injury Saturday night in the Atlanta Hawk’s 98-93 win over the Magic.

From the press release:

The 6-foot-9, 220-pound rookie had his foot X-rayed following Saturday’s game and it revealed the fracture. He left the Verizon Center late Saturday night wearing a protective walking boot.

Gordon, the youngest player in the NBA this season at 19 years old, will be further evaluated as to the best course of action for treatment upon the team’s return to Orlando.

Gordon has appeared in all 11 games this season, coming off the bench in each one. He’s averaged 5.8 points, 3.0 rebounds and 0.55 blocks a game. His finest game as a pro came on Nov. 6 when he scored 17 points – six of them in overtime – and grabbed six rebounds in Orlando’s defeat of Minnesota. He also played a key role in flipping the momentum in Friday’s defeat of Milwaukee by scoring eight points, grabbing three rebounds and handing out three assists.

The Orlando Magic escaped New York with a 97-95 win over the Knicks (who have now lost six in a row.)

Per Newsday:

Anthony shot 10-for-17 and led the Knicks (2-7) with 27 points after spending nearly 10 minutes on the bench in the second half in foul trouble. But he was on the floor at closing time, which is when he wants the ball and tries to earn his $124-million salary. […] “Of course, I want it,” Anthony said. “Whether he could have got it to me or not, that’s a different question.”

“By the time I caught it, the clock was already on 3.5,” Smith said, “so if I forced that into him, what kind of shot is he really going to have — a turnaround fadeaway?” Smith said. “It’s not the best shot we want. I don’t think it’s enough for him to set his feet and do what he wanted to do. … I think we went with the best shot. I think it was the right shot and I just didn’t make it.”

“Once the ball came in to J.R., he trusted himself,” Knicks head coach Derek Fisher said, “He took the shot. We live with that. You don’t draw it up for a three-point shot like that, but I have no problem with a guy believing in himself that he can help his team.”

The Magic, of course, will have the option to match any offer Harris gets on the open market:

According to a source, Harris, who went to high school at Long Island’s Half Hollow Hills West, has a lot of interest in his hometown Knicks after becoming buddies with Carmelo Anthony over the summer.

Harris, averaging 16.7 points and 8.1 rebounds for the Magic, will face the Knicks on Wednesday at the Garden. After participating with the U.S. Select Team in Las Vegas, Harris worked out several times over the summer with Anthony at his Terminal 23 gym in midtown Manhattan and the two often were paired in scrimmages. […] The source said they made a good combo.

The Knicks will have a ton of cap space in 2015. They are capable of signing their No. 1 target, center Marc Gasol, and could still have room for the versatile Harris, who played at Tennessee. The Knicks will have even more cap room if J.R. Smith opts out.

Washington Wizards All-Star point guard John Wall has come out of the gates blazing – Wall registered his second consecutive double-double Thursday night, in a 105-98 road victory against the Orlando Magic.

Wall finished with 30 points and 12 assists, as he led the Wiz to their first win of the young season.

Davis began the 2014-’15 season by leading the New Orleans Pelicans to a 101-84 victory against the visiting Orlando Magic, with a near triple-double of 26 points, 17 rebounds and a career high 9 blocks.

Last night was the night—Opening Night. First three games of the 2014-15 NBA season are officially in the bag, and there’s already so much to talk about. Welcome back, everybody. (To the regular NBA season, that is. We know you were here on SLAMonline throughout the off- and preseason—y’all rock).

Spurs 101 – Mavericks 100

Is there a better way to begin the season? A ring ceremony concluding with the revelation of your fifth Championship banner, followed by a win in a down-to-the-wire game against a division rival. Yeah, no. It doesn’t get much better.

Fans witnessed typical Spurs basketball in San Antonio last night—finding the open man to shoot efficiently (53 percent from the field), a solid Timmy Duncan double-double (14 points and 13 boards), an explosive Manu Ginobili off the bench (20 points), and a clutch Tony Parker whose 3-pointer with just over a minute left in the 4Q sealed the Spurs’ win. ‘Twas a nice time for the Spurs and their fans.

The new-look Mavs team wasn’t too shabby either. Nowitzki finished with 18 and Ellis with 26 points, 6 assists and 4 boards. They almost had the game when Dirk sank a three…but Tony answered back with his triple, and Chandler Parsons’ shot attempt to win it in the final seconds fell short.

Pelicans 101 – Magic 84

Hello, Anthony Davis! Stat line easily goes to the 21-year-old star, who had a near triple-double on opening night. With 26 points, 17 rebounds and 9 blocks (not to mention 3 steals), he became one of three players (the other two being Shaq and Tim Duncan) since 1985 to record 20+ points, 15+ boards and 8+ blocks before the ripe age of 22. We’re witnessing history here, people!

Newly acquired Pelican, Omer Asik, finished with his own double-double of 14 points and 17 rebounds. And to think these two guys weren’t even the game leaders in boards—the Magic’s Nikola Vucevic snagged 23 of them rebounds.

Orlando kept the game close with guys like Tobias Harris putting up 25 points, before New Orleans pulled away for good in the fourth.

Rockets 108 – Lakers 90

One man back, another man gone.

In Kobe Bryant’s return to the basketball court last night, the Houston Rockets blew out his Lakers in their own house. What made it worse—L.A.’s lottery pick, Julius Randle, suffered a broken leg and had to be rolled off the court.

The Black Mamba put up 19 points, 3 boards and 2 assists in his first game back, but James Harden and the Rockets stole the show. Harden had the game-high 32 points to go along with 6 assists. Needless to say, there were a number of #BeardAlert tweets sent out last night.

Terrence Jones, Trevor Ariza and Dwight Howard all contributed double digits for the Rockets as well, resulting in a smooth and satisfying road victory.

The second pick in the 2013 NBA Draft suffered the injury during practice late last week.

Per Yahoo! Sports:

Oladipo, the 2014 runner-up for the NBA’s Rookie of the Year award, sustained an elbow to his head in practice on Thursday. He had the surgical procedure on Saturday.

For the Magic, Oladipo’s loss is a significant blow and adds to the burden on promising rookie Elfrid Payton Jr., who will take on a more significant role in Oladipo’s absence. The Magic have confidence that Oladipo – who averaged 13.8 points, four assists and four rebounds a season ago – and Payton will form the franchise’s backcourt for years to come.

It has been a rough preseason for Victor Oladipo. The Orlando Magic announced Friday morning that the second-year guard will be sidelined indefinitely, after taking an accidental elbow to the face during practice.

Oladipo, who was evaluated Thursday afternoon, will undergo a corrective surgical procedure on Saturday. He was injured after taking an inadvertent elbow during a practice drill.

Oladipo (6’4”, 210, 5/4/92) has not played during the preseason due to a sprained MCL in his left knee. Last season (2013-14), he played in 80 games (44 starts) during his rookie campaign with Orlando, averaging 13.8 ppg., 4.1 rpg., 4.1 apg. and a team-high 1.61 stlpg. in 31.1 minpg. He was tied for 15th in the NBA in steals. Oladipo also ranked among all NBA rookies in scoring (2nd), rebounding (T-8th), assists (3rd), FG percentage (.419, 8th), three-point FG percentage (.327, T-7th), FT percentage (.780, 6th), steals (2nd) and minutes played (3rd).

“It’s tough,” Oladipo said. “But, again, it’s a part of basketball. It happens. At the end of the day, I’ve just got to figure out how to stay close to my team and get better away from the court, whether it be watching film or watching the games or just improving myself mentally. It’s going to be huge.”

It’s unclear how much time Oladipo will miss, but Oladipo and Magic coach Jacque Vaughn said they took some solace from the fact that Oladipo didn’t initially think the injury was severe. […] “It’s an injury that the timeline varies from individual to individual,” Vaughn said. “I will say the fact that he finished practice, I believe, is a good sign.”

The Orlando Magic announced Friday that forward Channing Frye sprained the medial collateral ligament in his left knee in Thursday’s practice, after bumping into teammate Ben Gordon. To everyone’s relief

“I’m a little disappointed, but at the same time it could have been way worse,” Frye said before Friday’s training camp practice. “It could have really set me back longer, but thank God that it happened now of any time. So I guess it’s a best of the worst situation. I’m pretty happy with what’s going on and I’m pretty confident with this training staff and how they want to get me back healthy.”

Upon colliding with Gordon on Thursday, Frye went down on the floor and his moans and pained facial expressions sent a shock wave through the team. Like Frye, many of the coaches and players feared the worst when they saw the 31-year-old forward clutching his knee. But there was relief later when it was revealed that Frye didn’t suffer major damage.

“You just look at a player’s expression on his face and you look to see any shock or timidity in his movement and I think we’re pretty fortunate,” Magic coach Jacque Vaughn said. “After practice he was evaluated with a MRI and it could be a lot worse.”

The Orlando Magic signed Ben Gordon to a two-year, $9 million deal back in July. Gordon says that after trudging through three bad seasons with the Detroit Pistons, and two more with Charlotte Bobcats, he’s ready to resuscitate his career .

“I definitely look at this [as an] opportunity to [re-establish] myself and definitely help with the younger group of guys and try to just share what I can with them on how to win,” Gordon said Tuesday.

“It never really went anywhere,” Gordon answered when asked whether he has regained his shooting stroke over the last few months. “It’s just a matter of being consistent, making sure your touch is always right and just trying to stay in a good rhythm.

Darko Milicic, the center who was infamously picked second overall by the Detroit Pistons in the loaded 2003 NBA Draft, is apparently done with hoops at the age of 29, and according to NBASerbia, the big fella is entering the world of kickboxing in his home country.

The seven footer bounced around the NBA, playing for six teams and posted career averages of 6.0 points and 4.2 rebounds in 468 games.

Over the years, Chris Paul has been known to invite a number of his point guard friends to his CP3 Elite Point Guard Camp in Winston-Salem, NC, and this year was no different. Newly signed Suns lead guard Isaiah Thomas made the trek to put some work in, as did Orlando Magic rookie point guard Elfrid Payton. We watched him train for the NBA Draft back in early May in L.A., when he was projected as a late first-round pick.

We caught back up with the Magic playmaker to rap about Summer League, what he learned from Chris Paul, and what his first summer as a pro has been like.

SLAM: How do you think Summer League went for you?

Elfrid Payton: Summer League was good. I learned a lot getting out there and playing at this level. Summer League is a lot different than a real game, but it’s the closest thing that I have right now. I definitely learned and got better each day.

SLAM: What was it like playing with that much talent?

EP: I had guys who were getting paid to knock down shots and fighting to make the team, so it’s a little bit different because obviously, I didn’t have those guys in college.

SLAM: What have you learned from Chris Paul in your time together?

EP: He said I need to slow down and play at a good pace. He told me a lot of little things to do throughout the season. Keep your body right, eat right, and things like that.

SLAM: If you had to pinpoint one thing in Summer League that you were really taken back by, what would that be?

EP: Just the speed of the game. My first game was such a whirlwind, but after that, I was able to adjust my game and get back playing at my pace.

SLAM: What’s your first summer been like as a pro?

EP: Man, I’m just working. I’m just trying to get as much work in as I can to be as prepared as I can for the season. There’s nothing like playing in an NBA game, but I’m trying to do whatever I can to make it as close to that as possible.

SLAM: Since you signed your contract with the Magic, have you done anything to treat yourself or your family yet?

EP: Not yet, man. I got the condo and then we’re probably about to go back home in a few weeks and look at the housing stuff. We’re probably not going to move, but I’m definitely going to do a little something for them.

SLAM: Only coming out of high school with one DI offer, what kind of advice can you give to players who fall under the radar like you did?

EP: It doesn’t matter where you’re ranked or who is recruiting you. If you put in the work, they will find you. Hard work pays off.

SLAM: How do you feel about playing alongside Victor Oladipo, given that he played some point last year?

EP: I think I can play off of the ball and I know he can play off of the ball if he needs to. I think we’re really going to hurt people defensively. Defense is going to win us games. We can both cause a lot of turnovers and get out in transition.

Dragic, 25, averaged 10.6 points and 2.8 rebounds over 50 games in his second year with BC Malaga last season. Per RealGM:

Dragic, the younger brother of Goran Dragic, had 11 points and five rebounds in 28 minutes against the United States national team on Tuesday. He has informed teams of an Oct. 5 buyout deadline in the language of his contract with Unicaja Malaga of the European League, a source said.

Dragic, a 6-foot-5 product, has received NBA interest in past summers, and he played for the Houston Rockets’ summer league team in 2012. Several NBA organizations have scouted him throughout the World Cup, sources said, and several new inquiries are placed per day.

ESPN sources say Phoenix, Indiana and Sacramento are the teams in most serious pursuit of Slovenian guard Zoran Dragic, brother of Goran

It is early March 1996. The scene is Colgate University—a small, private liberal arts institution tucked away in the tiny village of Hamilton, NY—located nearly an hour southeast of Syracuse. With another harsh winter gripping tightly to the region, the school seeks refuge in the men’s basketball team’s Patriot League Tournament final matchup with Holy Cross. Tip-off is in a few hours, and Adonal Foyle is focused.

The All-American center’s pregame conversation isn’t about the Raiders’ offensive sets or defensive assignments. There are no basketballs in the room. In fact, Foyle isn’t in the gym.

A short walk from the court, Colgate philosophy professor Coleman Brown is coaching up Foyle on the intricacies of the Civil Rights movement. Foyle is engaged in a spirited discussion with one of the teachers he admires most. He would rather talk about the March on Washington than March Madness. The passionate exchange lasted long enough for him to miss the team’s shootaround.

“I remember coach (Jack Bruen) sitting there and looking at me,” Foyle said. “I expected to get destroyed. I begged for his mercy. All he said was, ‘I’m telling you right now that you better win this game tonight!’”

Foyle listened. He gave Bruen a triple-double of 22 points, 15 rebounds and 10 blocks. Only a sophomore, he also added 6 assists to reassure victory for the Raiders and a second consecutive berth in the NCAA tournament. Foyle learned his lesson. He still enjoys being educated. A love for knowledge has shaped the man into more than a retired and respected NBA veteran.

The on-court success and off-court accomplishments were never a thought in Foyle’s adolescent mind. He dreamed of being a judge one day, wearing a robe similar to those worn by British parliament. But the path to any career was met with endless obstacles growing up on the islands of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. It is where his real education began.

***

The condition of basketball courts in Canoun where Foyle grew up was unconventional, yet predictable. Iron rims were attached to telephone poles. Backboards would occasionally tip over. The roads where games were played had a collection of holes. Contests were halted briefly for passing cars. Flood lights kept games going into the night.

To Foyle, these games were his first basketball memories. As a teenager, he occasionally put his schoolwork on hold to play in the neighborhood.

“My mom would be calling out, ‘You better not be going to the court again! You better get your homework done!’” Foyle said.

At 15, Foyle began to play basketball competitively. His shoe size matched his age, and it was difficult to find sneakers that fit. He would bust through the soles, but use cloth and scotch tape to keep his kicks together. Foyle also remembers spraining his ankles, and with no medical staff on hand, returning home to face his displeased mother.

Education was important to the Foyle family. Career opportunities on the islands were minimal. In the summer of 1990, Jay and Joan Mandle witnessed this. The Colgate University professors were officiating a summer tournament in Union Island when they identified a remarkably raw Foyle.

“Adonal was on the team from Union Island, and it was a rag tag group of players,” Jay said. “They only won one game the entire tournament. My eye went to Adonal for a couple reasons. He stood out because he was younger. He was a fantastic athlete, but he had no basketball skills.”

The Mandles’ son, John, was accidentally watching Foyle, too. John was tasked with video taping games and monitoring referees. The tournament served as a training opportunity for up-and-coming officials aiming to work at higher levels of the game. Somehow, the camera would always find Foyle.

“Johnny would say, ‘Did you see the Chief?’” Jay said. “I was wondering what Johnny was talking about, until I saw the tapes. I realized that he was following Adonal and he reminded Johnny of Robert Parish.”

Before leaving the island, the Mandles had a choice to make. They decided to approach Foyle about coming to the United States. The top priority was delivered at the outset. Studies would come first.

“Education on Union Island was extremely limited, to put it as nicely as a I can,” Joan said. “We checked with the school, and we knew he was a nice boy. He didn’t do well in school, but he had potential. We took a chance on him.”

“I thought it was the craziest idea ever,” Foyle said. “I remember going back home and trying to convince my mother. I was convinced that I wanted to do it.”

Foyle was allowed to join the Mandles in the States, and he enrolled in Cardinal O’Hara High School in Philadelphia for the first year. His priorities were briefly flipped. The basketball coaches were diligent in getting Foyle acclimated to the sport. Academics took a back seat. Joan soon realized that Foyle was less educated than they thought.

When they moved Foyle to Hamilton (NY), a smaller high school setting in a quaint community was more than ideal. The Mandles tutored Foyle for hours every day after school, and they quickly saw growth. Foyle was fascinated with English. His speech was so fast many classmates said he was speaking “Caribbeanese.” Once Foyle mastered articulation, government became his favorite class.

“My parents were grilling me on the weekends, making sure I was doing well,” Foyle said. “I was getting extra homework. It was nightmarish at times. There were more expectations of me, especially from colleges.”

The progression in the classroom matched his play on the court. Foyle led Hamilton to its first two state championships, and he was selected as a McDonald’s High School All-American. As a senior, he would graduate with honors. His basketball and academic acumen was an alluring combination for major Division I programs. A couple of Foyle’s top suitors were Duke, Syracuse and Michigan. Mike Krzyzewski and Jim Boeheim visited Foyle at the Mandles’ house. In his heart, Foyle knew a local institution like Colgate was the right fit.

“At the end of the day, I wanted to go to a place that would treat me as a student-athlete in every sense of the word,” Foyle said. “I wanted to have a college degree. I was certain I wasn’t going back to the Caribbean without one. I wanted to be the first person in our village or town to just go to college.”

Foyle continued to flourish at Colgate. The Mandles helped him identify good classes with great teachers. Jay is an economics professor at the university, while Joan taught sociology and anthropology. Foyle took an array of courses, from poetry to drama. With an increasingly curious mind, the burgeoning big man always asked questions and initiated thoughtful conversations.

“I had amazing teachers,” Foyle said. “I embraced the liberal arts. I enjoyed the journey, not only getting to know your professors, but what it brings out of you with that passion for learning.”

Colgate’s basketball program was also fortunate to have Foyle on its roster. The Red Raiders won two Patriot League championships. Foyle averaged 20.4 points, 12.7 rebounds and 5.7 blocks per game in his three-year college career. He left college as the NCAA’s career leader in blocks with 492 (he now ranks third all-time). He recorded four career triple-doubles and six games with 10 or more blocks.

An intimidating presence at 6-10, Foyle blossomed into an NBA Lottery pick. He left Colgate after his junior season and was drafted eighth overall by Golden State in 1997. A rise to the pros didn’t distract Foyle from keeping his promise, though. He graduated magna cum laude two years later from Colgate with a degree in history.

“He learned to learn,” Jay said. “That was a very important skill that didn’t come that easily, but he was so strongly motivated.”

***

Foyle spent the majority of his 13-year NBA career in Golden State. He gave the Warriors 10 seasons with his best campaign coming in 2000-01. The serviceable center averaged career highs in points (5.9), rebounds (7) and blocks (2.7) per game that season. The most impressive development came off the court. Foyle found a new home in the Bay Area, and continued to read at an obsessive rate.

“I read everything that I can find,” Foyle said. “There’s poetry out there, and I write my own. Nothing changed for me when I went to the NBA. The money I made supported my habit to buy more books. It fed the beast of my addiction. I just love to learn.”

Contrary to popular belief, Foyle identified a number of NBA players who also owned a penchant for reading. He gravitated toward political discussions, but he engaged several of his hardwood peers over a variety of topics.

“Pat Garrity has such a brilliant mind,” Foyle said. “He was always reading a book. I always asked what he was reading, we’d talk about it and respectfully disagree at times. JJ Redick is a big reader and writes. He’s very religious. I like to find out where [players’] interests reside and where they feel comfortable having a discussion. A lot of guys are really brilliant.”

The affinity for education served as a catalyst for Foyle’s community service work on the West Coast. He was chosen for the NBA’s Community Assist Award five consecutive years and selected to the World Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame. His influential action also made him an exceptional choice as the NBA’s First Vice President in the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA).

“A lot of lessons came from that,” Foyle said. “Some of the most powerful people like David Stern and Billy Hunter…you’re going to learn about the art of negotiating and how they ask questions. We had a significant role to educate the next generation of players.”

When Foyle retired from the NBA in 2010, he also resigned from his post with the NBPA. He called the executive committee tenure with the NBPA one of the most valuable experiences of his life. Other players watched his actions with genuine interest.

“I was able to work closely with him and observe first hand just how incredibly intelligent he really is,” said Etan Thomas, a former NBA veteran and fellow NBPA committee member. “His level of intellect is impressive. He was and is extremely well versed and educated on the intricate details necessary to be able to prepare for labor negotiations. He could teach a class on how to know the business of the business you’re in. I’ve always had much respect for him.”

The NBA gave Foyle bountiful opportunities. But to feel fulfilled, Foyle went beyond being an activist at the local level. He took his vision nationally and globally. The education he continued to collect set the stage for today’s vital work.

***

In 2001, Foyle created Democracy Matters, a non-partisan organization encouraging students to have a voice in the conversation about issues with democracy. Between 60-70 chapters have been implemented on college campuses with the primary focus on conflicts in campaign finance reform.

“Money can’t equal free speech,” Foyle said. “That can’t be the intention for democracy. People are starting to understand the money and actual policies. The money is buying access and favors.”

Joan Mandle has been involved with the organization since its inception and serves as its executive director. She travels across the country and invites students to share their perspectives and get educated on a growing national problem.

“This is a very cynical and alienated nation in terms of politics,” Joan said. “We’re here to reinvigorate students to be politically engaged. Students must understand that democracy can’t be healthy unless they participate all the time.”

Five years after Democracy Matters was launched, Foyle started the Kerosene Lamp Foundation. This non-profit organization empowers children from the Caribbean and United States to develop a skill set that will help identify their true potential. Along with a basketball camp component, there are programs designed for education, mentorship and leadership. Foyle said a number of current and former NBA players have participated in the foundation’s program, including Courtney Lee, Leon Powe and Bo Outlaw, among others.

“I always thought being able to express your thoughts and desires is the highest calling,” Foyle said. “When you speak, you have a chance to tell people what you believe.”

Foyle continues to read and has blossomed into a writer. He released a children’s book titled “Too-Tall Foyle” chronicling his life experiences. With tired knees, Foyle doesn’t play basketball anymore, but a return to the NBA in a front office position is a viable option. Upon retirement, Foyle became the Orlando Magic’s director of player development and held the role for two years. Following the firing of Magic general manager Otis Smith in 2012, media reports indicated that Foyle interviewed for the job, which he confirmed.

“I’d like to learn the art of it,” said Foyle of being a GM. “You have to see the game as a player and see the business aspect through management. I love basketball and in the right situation, I would love to advance the game.”

Foyle turns 40 next March. He admits that he still has plenty to learn and achieve. The Mandles are more than amazed with how the Caribbean center is determining his legacy.

“The desire to learn is still there,” Jay said. “Twenty years later, he still has the same passion to master what he doesn’t know.”

The unanswered questions enliven Foyle every day. He wants to teach his children how to play the game that changed his life. The missions of his two organizations are bringing visibility to global concerns. He hopes someday that the money and politics discussion becomes the Civil Rights issue of today’s generation. Foyle is more than qualified to teach what he’s learned.

“I think there’s so much yet to accomplish,” he said. “We need to find a way to take our children and create more leaders. There are still so many things to keep fighting for.”

“Being traded for me is a positive experience,” Afflalo said. “I really enjoyed my time in Orlando. Rob [Hennigan], Scott [Perry], Coach [Jacque Vaughn], the assistants and all of my teammates really helped me develop as a player and as a person over the past two seasons so I’m very thankful for my opportunity there. I’m happy to be back in Denver, I got some very familiar teammates. I believe this is a championship team under the right mindset and coaching.”

Afflalo arrived in Orlando during a difficult time for any player. He was coming off of three consecutive trips to the postseason with the Nuggets and went to a team that was a few seasons away from playoff expectations. Afflalo even admitted it was a difficult time for him. He missed five games with an ankle injury late last season and said he came back after those five games slower than normal with the Magic being out of the playoff race. He said at the time that he was learning how to deal with that, but he remained professional during his time in Orlando. The idea of going back to the postseason has Afflalo excited about the upcoming season.

”It feels good because at the end of the day that’s why you play the game,” Afflalo said. “You play the game to win it all. Individually you want to improve as a player and all of us it’s a job, it’s a career and that’s very important but it’s a team sport and you want to play for a championship and there’s nothing else to say.”

Free agent forward Channing Frye is headed to Orlando according to multiple reports, joining the Magic on a four-year, $32 million contract. Per the Orlando Sentinel:

In an effort to stretch the floor and add someone who can mentor their legion of young players, the Orlando Magic have reached an agreement with free-agent power forward Channing Frye on a four-year, $32 million contract.

After Frye missed the entire 2012-13 season because of an enlarged heart, he staged an impressive return last season. He averaged 11.1 points and 5.1 rebounds per game for the Phoenix Suns and appeared in all 82 of the Suns’ games.

Magic officials likely view his long-range shooting as an asset that can create space for youngsters such as Victor Oladipo, Elfrid Payton, AaronÖ Gordon, Maurice Harkless and Tobias Harris to attack the rim.

Orlando has looked for supplementary help in free agency this offseason, not major help.

Although Gordon has averaged 15.6 points per game over his 10-year career, his final season in Charlotte was not a good one. He appeared in just 19 games for Charlotte last season and hasn’t started a game since the 2011-12 season.

The Orlando Magic announced on Monday that 10-year veteran point guard Jameer Nelson has been waived (guard Willie Green was claimed off of waivers.) The Magic said the Nelson move was a reflection of the team’s plan to rebuild around its promising young core. From the press release:

One of only two players ever to wear a Magic uniform for 10 seasons, Nelson was waived by the only team that he’s ever played for professionally so that he could become an unrestricted free agent when the courting period begins in less than nine hours at midnight. Contractually, Orlando had until July 15 to make a decision on the final year of Nelson’s contract, but it made a move on Monday so that the 32-year-old Nelson could have the opportunity to continue his career with another team.

“I appreciate the opportunity the Orlando Magic have afforded me and my family over the past 10 years,’’ Nelson said. “I’d like to thank the DeVos family, team management and all the coaches that have provided me guidance, mentoring and the ability to play the game that I love in the town that I love.

“I’d also like to give sincere and special thanks to the great Magic fans … you have loyally supported me since my first day in Orlando, and have always been there for me and my family,’’ Nelson continued. “You made it easy for us to adopt Orlando as our second home, and we will miss you.

“All good things must come to an end, however, and it’s time to move on. I look forward to continuing my career as an NBA player, and will never take for granted my time in Orlando.’’

Forty-eight wins in a basketball season is pretty damn solid. The mark was good enough for third place in this year’s admittedly ridiculous Eastern Conference. It’ll get you in the Playoffs most seasons, and is generally a record to be proud of.

But 48 wins loses roughly 100 percent of its panache when split between two teams in a given season. This past year saw the Jazz (25-57) and Magic (23-59) combine to get there. The Derrick Rose-less Bulls won the same 48 on their own.

Orlando and Utah were rewarded with top-five picks in Thursday’s Draft, coincidentally in sequence. They selected Aaron Gordon and Dante Exum, respectively.

On the surface, there’s not a whole lot to see here. Bad teams stunk it up for a year, drafted quality prospects and the NBA’s worst-to-first cycle is hopefully now in motion.

Only neither team is going through the usual motions that most teams at the top of the Draft (Cleveland, Charlotte, Sacramento, etc.) usually do. They’re doing it better and smarter; embracing a real, true-to-its-name rebuild.

At pick No. 12, the Magic selected Dario Saric. That selection originally belonged to New York way back when the Knicks owning picks was still a thing, but was forwarded to Orlando through Denver in the Dwight Howard deal. Saric was later flipped to Philadelphia for point guard Elfrid Payton, who was picked two slots earlier. Orlando sent Philadelphia its own 2017 first-round pick (which the Magic acquired for Howard) to grease the deal.

Eleven slots later, the Jazz nabbed Rodney Hood. That pick first belonged to the Warriors, who shipped it to Utah last year.

For the Jazz, the selection of Hood brought a rebuild that started more than three years ago one step closer to completion. At the beginning of it all, the Deron Williams trade returned the team an assortment of players, future picks and short-term contracts.

Today, we know the final package looks like this: Derrick Favors, Enes Kanter and Trey Burke, who was acquired by pairing what was originally the Nets’ pick with Utah’s own 2013 first-rounder and moving up in last year’s Draft.

The Jazz remained competitive even without Williams temporarily. In their first full season following the trade, Utah snuck into the Playoffs, and managed 43 wins the following year. Simply, the Al Jefferson-Paul Millsap duo was good enough to keep the team afloat, and some young pieces were developing around them.

But a year ago, Utah faced another franchise-changing decision. Jefferson and Millsap were both free agents. The team had Bird Rights on both—nobody could offer either guy more money than the Jazz could on the open market. Wisely, though, the Jazz made the most difficult choice a small-market team (which has only managed to lure one big free agent in the last decade: Carlos Boozer, ’04) can make. They let their stars walk away for nothing.

Jefferson and Millsap went East to Charlotte and Atlanta, respectively, and the old not-flashy-but-tough-to-knock-out Jazz effectively died. Utah was left with no players to show for the duo, but they did receive one pretty huge perk: loads and loads of cap space, which was only accentuated when Mo Williams’ $8.5 million came off the books simultaneously.

The Jazz used the new-found breathing room brilliantly. Golden State badly needed to shed the expiring contracts of Andris Biedrins ($9 million) and Richard Jefferson ($11 million) in order to sign Andre Iguodala, and Utah was more than willing to absorb them into its ample cap space for a year. The price? A pair of future first- and second-round picks.

One of those four picks has now materialized into Hood, a borderline lottery prospect who fills a dire need on the wing. Millsap, Biedrins and both Jeffersons are all now gone, but Hood, the first tangible product from last summer’s tough decision, figures to stick around for a while.

Alongside him, Utah can continue to add through the Draft. They control all of their own picks going forward and have three more still owed to them by Golden State. They’ll have decisions to make on restricted free agents Enes Kanter and Alec Burks next summer, and Derrick Favors’ 4-year, $48 million extension begins this year, but they’ll have plenty of cap flexibility moving forward. That’s what happens when Hayward, 24, is your oldest player whose rights are controlled long-term.

***

About a year and a half after Williams was traded to the Nets, Orlando ripped a page out of Utah’s book. When Howard trade rumors were at their peak, it seemed the Magic were destined to acquire Brook Lopez and a flurry of first-round picks for their big man. But Lopez was about to hit restricted free agency, and Orlando felt uneasy about signing him to a max extension.

GM Rob Hennigan surprisingly pulled the trigger on a different deal—one which didn’t land them a marquee name to sell to fans or the media. No guaranteed top picks. No cap space to retool quickly. Nowhere near equal value on the court in the short-term.

Instead, Orlando got a weird mish-mosh of veterans (Arron Afflalo, Al Harrington, Josh McRoberts), recent draft picks (Nikola Vucevic, Moe Harkless) and future picks which seemed somewhat unappealing at the time (the lesser of Denver’s two 2014 first-rounders, a 2017 first-rounder from the Lakers and a protected Philadelphia pick).

Two years later, the narrative of that deal has changed completely. Howard left LA after one miserable season and the Lakers were left empty-handed. All that remains of the trade for the Sixers is Jason Richardson’s upcoming $6.6 million salary in the final year of a deal he signed with the Magic in 2011. Most importantly, Orlando has turned a former nightmare into damn-near an entire starting lineup.

They packaged two of the picks acquired for Howard to land Payton on Thursday. Vucevic is a double-double machine, Harkless a quality piece still only 21 years old. Afflalo was flipped recently for Evan Fournier, who has shown a natural scoring ability in limited minutes over his first two seasons. They still have the future Lakers’ pick in their back pocket, which will eventually complete the Howard deal.

On top of it all, the team managed to turn JJ Redick’s expiring contract into Tobias Harris during the ’13 deadline. And, of course, in the process of Orlando’s young core developing, they’ve lost a ton of games (43-121 last two seasons), turning their own post-Dwight draft picks into Victor Oladipo and now Gordon. The team still may not win many games, but we can start to see what’s being built: a long, strong defensive squad which will move like a freight train in transition.

By my count, over two years they’ve piled up four probably really good guys (Oladipo, Vucevic, Payton, Gordon), three rotation guys at worst (Harris, Harkless, Fournier) and a wild-card future pick that could sneakily be a high choice (Kobe Bryant’s contract expires in the summer of 2016—who knows what the Lakers will look like during the ’16-17 season). That’s eight real assets—seven already tangible—in exchange for two expiring contracts and all hope of competing in the very near future.

The team’s books are comically clean moving forward—it’s possible Oladipo will be the team’s highest-paid player next season at under $5 million. They could buy out Jameer Nelson’s $8 million upcoming salary and carry $2 million in dead weight for it, but they’ll likely keep him around for now.

(PS: Sunday night’s John Salmons/Lou Williams trade had to have made the Magic very happy. Salmons has a $7 million salary in the upcoming season, but only $1 million of it is guaranteed. That was appealing to the Hawks, who can now cut him and essentially pay only that $1 million to get Williams’ $5.5 million off the books. Teams like Boston, Chicago and the Clippers will need to make similar deals if they want to free up cap room this summer. Nelson’s contract works the same way as Salmons’, and Toronto forced Atlanta to cough up a real prospect in Lucas Nogueira as the price of doing business. Don’t be surprised if Nelson’s partially guaranteed deal is the center of a similar trade in coming days. It would be a shrewd way for the Magic to acquire yet another asset—I wonder what Boston would surrender to rid themselves of Gerald Wallace’s two years and $20+ million.)

Orlando has some money to spend right now, and could try to pry away a restricted free agent like Greg Monroe this month. But if Gordon Hayward actually lands a max contract this summer, then the RFA market will likely go haywire and teams and fans alike should probably just find a safe place to hide out until the next CBA takes effect.

Next summer, Nelson and Harrington’s contracts will be gone, assuming they don’t flip one for a long-term contract before then, opening up even more spending money.

Kenneth Faried and Utah’s own Enes Kanter will be restricted free agents, and their current teams might be wary of matching a pricey offer sheet. Kyrie Irving and Kawhi Leonard will be RFAs too, for instance, but it’s unrealistic to think that Cleveland and San Antonio would let them walk, respectively, for nothing.

Maybe they’ll set their sights on a bigger fish—LaMarcus Aldridge, Marc Gasol and Lopez could be out there as unrestricted free agents—but Orlando won’t be the only team offering those guys big money. Perhaps DeAndre Jordan, set to hit unrestricted free agency at age 26 a year from now, could be their guy. Orlando could also try to package some pieces together in a trade if they’re not confident about luring a free agent they like.

There are about a million routes the Magic can take going forward, and they all look pretty sweet. Orlando has elite prospects, massive cap space, attractive trade chips, absurd verticals and a smart front office that has preached patience and is beginning to see it pay off.

Other teams have been paying attention.

Philadelphia traded its best player, Jrue Holiday, during the Draft last season, and the rewards are starting to take shape: Nerlens Noel, Saric and the return of their ’17 first-rounder. They also acquired a pair of second-round picks in exchange for Spencer Hawes’ expiring contract at this year’s deadline. The barren roster lost a ton of games, and landed Philly the third pick in this year’s Draft, where they selected Joel Embiid. The team has has very little money committed long-term—they’ll be patient with their cap room, waiting in the bushes for the right time to strike.

The Bucks may be in the early stages of a similar rebuild, but their roster construction makes it harder to map out. Larry Sanders’ lucrative extension is about to kick in. John Henson will be due a new contract a year from now, and Brandon Knight one year later. If they’re not committed to those guys, now is the best time to move them. But they’re all still young, and Milwaukee could keep them in the fold and hope for a fairly quick turnaround.

The Knicks would be wise to blow their roster up, beginning with a Carmelo Anthony sign-and-trade to bring in some youth and draft picks (Carlos Boozer’s expiring contract, Jimmy Butler, Doug McDermott and picks?). They’d have gobs of cap room in a huge market next summer, along with the newfound building blocks, but I’m not sure they’re willing to admit defeat on the Melo front.

Still, it seems owners are growing more patient, and teams are learning that floating between the late-lottery and getting smoked by No. 1 seeds in the first round of the Playoffs doesn’t do any good. Smarter GMs are making plans for further down the road, and it’s paying off one piece at a time. The Jazz and Magic understood that moving a fan-favorite star was the only way to improve drastically, even if it meant flashing some miserable basketball for a few seasons. The rest of the League’s middling teams should embrace the same idea.

The Philadelphia 76ers have reportedly traded Louisiana-Lafayette PG Elfrid Payton to the Orlando Magic for Croatian forward Dario Saric and a future first- and second-round pick, according to Yahoo. The

The Philadelphia 76ers have reportedly traded Louisiana-Lafayette PG Elfrid Payton to the Orlando Magic for Croatian forward Dario Saric and a future first- and second-round pick, according to Yahoo. The Sixers originally selected Payton with the 10th overall pick, and the Magic picked Saric with the 12 overall:

The Magic acquired Arron Afflalo a couple of years ago as a piece in the Dwight Howard three-way trade. Orlando GM Rob Hennigan appeared to have orchestrated a sweet deal then, and it looks like it’ll continue to pay dividends.

Orlando is finalizing a trade to send guard Arron Afflalo to the Denver Nuggets, league sources told Yahoo Sports.

The Bulls are reportedly pursuing a trade to acquire Arron Afflalo from the Orlando Magic. According to Yahoo, Chicago would “assuredly” include either their 16th or 19th overall pick in the Draft as part of the package:

Afflalo, 28, has two years left on his contract – including an Early Termination Option (ETO) provision next summer – and front office executives believe the Magic are prioritizing a trade for Afflalo over working to extend his contract.

It is unclear how the Bulls’ pursuit of Afflalo would impact the franchise’s free-agent interest in New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony.

The Bulls are searching for shooting to surround the returning Derrick Rose, and Afflalo is coming off his best offensive season, averaging 18.2 points per game on 45.9 percent shooting.

Chicago owns the 16th and 19th overall picks in the draft, and assuredly one of those selections would be included in a possible package with the Magic. Orlando has the fourth and 12th picks in Thursday’s draft and a rapidly developing young core of talent, including guard Victor Oladipo and center Nikola Vucevic.

The Bulls have shown a strong interest in moving one of their top picks in a deal and have been open to trading the 19th overall pick for a future first-round selection, league sources said. The Bulls are trying to be careful to preserve salary cap space for July free agency and are leery of two rookie-scale first-round picks on the roster, sources said.

Pau Gasol, who did not play the second half vs. Orlando because of dizziness and nausea, is being considered doubtful for Tuesday’s game vs. New York. Should Gasol not be able to play tomorrow, coach Mike D’Antoni said Chris Kaman would start in his place.

After spending the night in the hospital, Pau Gasol has been diagnosed as having had vertigo. MRI on his head this morning came back normal.

Thieves chose an opportune time to break into Los Angeles Lakers guard Nick Young’s home Sunday night – Young (26 points) was helping lead his team to a 104-93 win against the visiting Orlando Magic. Per TMZ and Young himself:

Sources tell us Nick came home after defeating the Orlando Magic at Staples Center around 11pm and noticed an upstairs window was broken.

Dwight at least sounded as if he has gained a conscience and a grown-up perspective, although he did plead for leniency before tip-off.

“Time heals all wounds,” said Howard, speaking on behalf of no one. “…Hopefully the fans can forgive me for how the situation ended.”

Howard looked unaffected by the crowd reaction, laughing when he left the lopsided game after hearing a heckler bellow, “Howard — you bum!”

“I played here. Some people are upset that I left. So they’re going to boo, let their frustrations out. It’s totally understandable,” he said afterward. “I had some great years here. The reason I left had nothing to do with the fans.”

The fans, though, must now stomach how Howard has lifted the Rockets and returned the Magic to the launch pad.

Dwight got the win, along with 19 points and 13 rebounds, to improve to 3-1 against his old club. The Magic got the loss to improve their lottery chances.

Davis, who got a buyout from the Orlando Magic on Friday, cleared waivers at 2 p.m. West Coast time Sunday.

He will join the Clippers in New Orleans on Monday night for their game against the Pelicans or back in Los Angeles on Wednesday night for their game against the Houston Rockets.

“A guy similar to a guy like that, it just gives us another big,” Clippers head coach Doc Rivers said. “And what I like about a guy like that he can play the ‘five’ [center] or the ‘four’ [power forward]. And if we got a guy like that, he knows my system.”

Davis and Rivers were together for four years with the Boston Celtics, winning an NBA championship in 2008.

Davis will give the Clippers help in the front court as a backup to Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan.

“It became apparent that they felt it was necessary to try to allow their younger players more time on the court and were in a full rebuild mode,” said Davis’ agent, John Hamilton.

“That also meant that would probably impact Glen’s time on the floor. So this is probably the best thing for both the Magic and for Glen. It gives him the opportunity to start anew with a new club that’s in the playoff hunt, and it gives the Magic the opportunity to put their young guys on the floor and give them valuable time playing.”

Glen Davis is owed $6.4 million this season, and was under contract with Orlando for $6.6 million next year. “Big Baby” no longer fit within the team’s long-term vision. Assuming he clears waivers, Glen Davis becomes an unrestricted free agent Monday.

According to Yahoo!, Davis’ former coach Doc Rivers and the LA Clippers are the front-runners to land the big man, but the Brooklyn Nets, Miami Heat, San Antonio Spurs and Golden State Warriors are all reportedly interested.

Davis averaged 11.6 points and 6.1 rebounds in 140 regular season games with the Orlando Magic.

In one of the most exciting finishes of the season, Kevin Durant missed a game-clinching jumper with five seconds to play, Victor Oladipo corralled the long rebound, sent it to Maurice Harkless, who flipped it to the trailing Tobias Harris for the game-winning dunk.

]]>http://www.slamonline.com/media/slam-tv/andray-blatche-dunks-on-kyle-oquinn-video/feed/2Dwight Howard Was Once ‘Promised’ He Was Being Traded to the Brooklyn Netshttp://www.slamonline.com/nba/dwight-howard-was-once-promised-he-was-being-traded-to-the-brooklyn-nets/
http://www.slamonline.com/nba/dwight-howard-was-once-promised-he-was-being-traded-to-the-brooklyn-nets/#commentsSun, 19 Jan 2014 16:56:37 +0000http://www.slamonline.com/online/?p=304208

The “Dwightmare” is now over, so we hate to bring up old, painful news, but this is pretty interesting—while the seven-time All-Star was trying to figure out his future back in 2012, Howard claims he was “promised” that he was headed to Brooklyn. As we now know, Orlando’s deal with the Nets fell apart, and the rest is history. Via BasketballInsiders.com:

In the summer of 2012, reports emerged that Howard requested a trade from the Magic. Unlike midseason when he didn’t know what would happen, Howard believed his next move was clear.

“I thought the Brooklyn thing was going to come through at the end of the season,” Howard said of a potential trade to the Nets. “It was something that was promised, but it didn’t happen. Once it didn’t happen I figured everything happens for a reason. I just let it go. I was upset for a while, but I just let it go.”

After nailing a clutch three-pointer late in the fourth quarter against the Bulls, Jameer Nelson celebrated by doing the infamous Big Balls Dance. The NBA slapped him with a $15,000 fine for it, but Nelson said “I’ll do it again” if emotion compels him to do so. From Fox Sports South Florida:

After nailing a fallaway jump shot over 6-foot-11 Bulls center Joakim Noah to tie the score late in regulation, the 6-foot-1 Nelson ran back towards the Magic bench cupping his hands in a gesture that had been made famous — or infamous — by the now-retired Sam Cassell.

“I accept the fine,” Nelson said Friday at the Magic’s shootaround before their game against the Charlotte Bobcats. “Hopefully I won’t get emotional again. If I have to pay $15,000 for our fans to get excited I’ll do it again.”

Nelson came within a point of tying his career high when he poured in 31 against the Bulls. The 30 field goals he shot were a season high for any Magic player, and his 13 3-point attempts tied Arron Afflalo’s total on Dec. 3 in a double-overtime loss at Philadelphia.

“If I offended anyone, I’m sorry,” he said. “Basketball is a fun game, and you get emotional. You never see my emotions, but you did that game.”

After nailing a, um, ballsy three-pointer late in the fourth quarter last night, Jameer Nelson celebrated by doing the infamous Big Balls Dance. The NBA did not appreciate it, and now there’s a $15K hole in Nelson’s pocket. From the press release:

Orlando Magic guard Jameer Nelson has been fined $15,000 for making an obscene gesture during the Magic’s 128-125 loss in triple overtime to the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday, Jan. 15, at Amway Center, it was announced today by Rod Thorn, President, Basketball Operations.

Asked before practice (Tuesday) if he could see the Clippers signing Turkoglu to a contract, Rivers said, “We could, yeah. We’re looking at him strong. I can say that much.”

The Clippers have a full 15-man roster and would have to waive a player before they could sign Turkoglu. But a Turkoglu deal could be done as soon as Wednesday or Thursday, the day the Clippers leave for a seven-game, 12-day trip.

Turkoglu, 34, worked out for Rivers and the Clippers Thursday at the team’s practice facility in Playa Vista. “He made shots from everywhere,” Rivers said Friday. “He looked good. It was a good workout.” The 6-foot-10 Turkoglu has averaged 11.9 points and 3.1 assists over 12-plus NBA seasons. The Orlando Magic had told Turkoglu to stay away from the team this season, and finally waived him Jan. 3.

According to Orlando Magic head coach Jacque Vaughn, center Nik Vucevic suffered a concussion during a gruesome fall in the third quarter during the Magic’s 101-81 loss to the LA Clippers on Monday night. Per the Orlando Sentinel:

It is Vucevic’s second concussion since March 19, 2013.

The severity of the concussion is unclear, but Vucevic never lost consciousness. He walked off the court under his own power and, after the game ended, spoke with a group of friends in Staples Center’s stands.

“We’ll leave it in the hands of the doctors now,” coach Jacque Vaughn said.

With Kyrie Irving in street clothes, the Cleveland Cavaliers turned to Dion Waiters at crunch time and he delivered. The Cavs held on for an 87-81 win over the visiting Orlando Magic, behind Anderson Varejao’s monster 18-point, 25-rebound performance.

New York Knicks point guard Raymond Felton returned from a six-game absence due to injury Monday night, and promptly got hurt again. Felton fears he may be out a while longer after feeling a pop in his right groin. Per the NY Post:

This could be even more serious than the hammy after feeling something “pop.” He will undergo tests, likely an MRI exam, on Tuesday.

According to Orlando Magic big man Glen Davis, the same shoulder he dislocated nearly a year ago popped out its socket, but “Big Baby” gutted it out on Sunday against the OKC Thunder. Per the Orlando Sentinel: “Davis dislocated the same shoulder almost one year ago, on Dec. 19, 2012. Davis left the game clutching his shoulder, and he was checked on the bench by athletic trainer Keon Weise. Davis returned to the court with 13.0 seconds left and set a screen on the final possession, which ended in an airball by Davis. ‘I’ll be all right,’ Davis said. In a follow-up question, Davis — who recently returned from a 10-month absence because of a fractured left foot — was asked whether having his shoulder pop out was disconcerting. ‘Yeah,’ he said. ‘But I’ve been out of basketball too long to let a little boo-boo hurt me as long as I can use it. It’s going to be sore. You don’t play the game 100 percent. I don’t know a player that plays the game 100 percent. As long as I can move it and it doesn’t stop my motion and I’m not going to hurt it even more by playing, I’ll be fine.’”

Orlando Magic forward Glen Davis isn’t the man he used to be — he’s much smaller now. According to “Big Baby”, he hasn’t been this light on his feet since he was a teenager. From the Magic’s website: “When Davis fractured the fifth metatarsal in his left foot last January on an innocent-looking play and subsequently had to endure two surgeries and 10 months of inactivity, he knew that he had to drop some weight off his massive 6-foot-9 frame if he was going to continue playing in the NBA. This wasn’t exactly an overnight revelation for Davis, who has always lived life as a big man and has been in pursuit of ways to shed pounds for years. Fresh off a spectacular 33-point effort spread over 50 minutes Tuesday in Philadelphia, Davis will take the Madison Square Garden court Friday night as slim as he’s been in, well, almost a lifetime. ‘Eighth grade. Yeah, really, it’s the lightest I’ve been since the eighth grade,’ said Davis, seemingly shocked himself. ‘This time it’s consistent (with the weight loss). There have been times when I’ve lost a lot of weight, but I’d just gain it right back. But as far as consistently staying at this weight and staying down, it’s been since the eighth grade when I was this thin.’”

A pair of rookies stole the show in a double OT thriller between the Sixers and Magic. Philly’s Michael Carter-Williams (27 points, 12 rebounds, 10 assists) led his team to a 126-125 victory, while Orlando’s Victor Oladipo did his thing with 26 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists.

There were some unbelievable stats-related things in this game last night, but first let’s leap to the fourth quarter, where the Magic had the ball down three with 18 seconds left. Glen Davis—yes, Big Baby—sank a game-tying three, and Evan Turner couldn’t win the game for Philly at the buzzer.

In OT, the Sixers led by three with 12 seconds remaining, when Arron Afflalo was fouled shooting a three and knocked down all of his free throws to tie the game yet again. And, again, Philly couldn’t win at the buzzer.

In the second OT, though, Orlando’s luck ran out. An Afflalo three at the buzzer pulled the Magic within one, but it was obviously too late for another comeback effort.

Now the stats! Where to begin… Two rookies had triple-doubles: Victor Oladipo (26 points, 10 boards, 10 dimes) and Michael Carter-Williams (27 points, 12 boards, 10 assists). They’ve been by far the best two rookies in the League so far (nice job, Cleveland!), and their talents were on full display on Tuesday night.

MCW led Philly in scoring, but Thaddeus Young (25 and 12) and Evan Turner (24, 6 and 5) were big, too. James Anderson kicked in 19 off the bench, and Spencer Hawes scored 17 with 7 rebounds in the wild win. Philly won the rebounding battle 56-34, a remarkable number considering the game needed six periods to decide.

Pistons 107, Heat 97

The Heat don’t drop home games to non-elite teams often (I mean seriously, look at this), but Detroit came to play last night. Andre Drummond, fresh off of his 31 and 19 Sunday explosion, snagged 18 rebounds against the helpless Heat, whose own center, Chris Bosh, managed just six. Each of Brandon Jennings, Greg Monroe, Josh Smith, Rodney Stuckey and Kyle Singler scored at least 15 in the win.

Miami cut a big deficit down to three with a few minutes left, but never got closer than 91-88 late. LeBron and Michael Beasley each scored a game-high 23 and Ray Allen scored 12 while seeing some bonus minutes with Dwyane Wade sitting out.

Raptors 103, Warriors 112

A really good Western Conference team beating a mediocre Eastern Conference team at home isn’t usually all that impressive. But, considering the Raptors led by 18 entering the fourth quarter, Tuesday night’s win was a sweet one for the Dubs.

Golden State simply caught fire in the final 12 minutes, outscoring Toronto 42 to 15. (A full game at that pace would finish 168-60.)

The Raptors got big nights from a few guys—26 for DeMar DeRozan, 20 and 9 from Kyle Lowry, 18 for Rudy Gay and a double-double by Amir Johnson—but obviously fizzed in the fourth.

Bucks 100, Celtics 108

Not to take anything away from the Cs, but Milwaukee is the worst team in the League and it’s not that close right now. Last night, they hung with the Celtics for most of the night, but allowed 39 points in the fourth quarter.

Charlotte had a chance to pick up an impressive road W last night, as they led by six early in the fourth quarter. But Dallas closed the game on a 24-11 run, and moved to 9-2 at home on the season.

Dirk Nowitzki (10/21, 25 points) and Monta Ellis (22, 5 and 5) made up for most of the Mavs’ offense. Shawn Marion (8 and 10) and Vince Carter (10 and 7) had nice nights as well.

Al Jefferson dropped 19 and 12 for the Bobcats, but it wasn’t enough.

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist left early with a broken left ring finger, and we wish him a quick recovery.

Nuggets 111, Nets 87

The Nets just weren’t on the same level as Denver last night. Playing without Deron Williams and Paul Pierce, the offense shot only 40 percent (2/16 from deep) in another blowout loss.

Meanwhile, the Nuggets are streaking after a slow start to the season. They’re now 11-6 following Tuesday’s win, in which nine guys scored at least seven points. Timofey Mozgov was the star, scoring a team-high 17 points and grabbing 20 boards in 31 minutes.

Thunder 97, Kings 95

A Reggie Jackson triple with 2:25 remaining halted the Kings’ comeback attempt last night in Sacto.

Jackson finished with 14 points, 4 boards and 4 dimes—roughly the line he posts on a nightly basis for OKC. His production has been huge for a team with major question marks off the bench around him. Kevin Durant led the way with 27 points and 11 boards, while Russell Westbrook struggled and finished with 15 points on 7/19 shooting. He managed 8 boards and 7 dimes, but committed 7 turnovers, too.

Isaiah Thomas led Sacramento in scoring with 24. Jason Thompson, Greivis Vasquez, Ben McLemore and Derrick Williams all scored double-figures, though Williams failed to record a rebound or an assist in 27 minutes. Baby steps, I suppose.

Bonus: Vintage Show Of The Day

This season, I’ll be posting a semi-random highlight video of a former baller at the bottom of my Post Ups. Today Larry Bird gets the spotlight. You know that saying about the lost art of the midrange game? Yeah, well, please keep it in mind while you enjoy watching Bird drop 60 on the Hawks in ’85.

Big Baby apologized for throwing a temper tantrum at a discount motel, but his employer still punished him. The Magic fined Glen Davis an undisclosed amount. From the press release: “We will not tolerate or condone this type of behavior,’ said General Manager Rob Hennigan.’As we have stated repeatedly, when a player puts on an Orlando Magic uniform, he is representing something much greater than himself. We expect our players to uphold a certain standard of conduct and character at all times.’”

After six straight playoff appearances from 2007-12, including a trip to the NBA Finals in 2009, Orlando is trying to climb back into contention. Last season, the first without Dwight Howard, the Magic won 20 games, ranking second fewest in franchise history.

With the second pick in the Draft, the Magic selected guard Victor Oladipo, who is already showing glimpses of unique versatility and strong defense. While the 21-year-old out of Indiana is currently coming off the bench, he is averaging about 25 minutes per game and doing a little bit of everything on the floor.

This season, the Magic’s future is looking a bit brighter, with the combination of a young, active core and veterans like Arron Afflalo, who continues to add different facets to his game. This November, the team notched impressive wins against the Nets and Clippers.

While Oladipo is growing on the court, Magic fans will enjoy getting to know him on a personal level as well. A video featuring Oladipo singing a duet at a showcase in college recently made the rounds on the internet. Regardless of the stage, it seems the spotlight will continue to shine on the multi-talented rookie.

Orlando Magic forward Glen “Big Baby” Davis, in a fit of rage, trashed a keyboard at a Florida motel this past Saturday. Davis apparently lost it when told that there were no more rooms. TMZ reports: “Glen — clearly frustrated — reached over the front desk and grabs a keyboard, which he proceeds to rip from the front desk computer and throw across the lobby. Davis then storms out of the motel in anger. The Travelodge employee immediately called police and moments later, two cops arrive on scene. Law enforcement sources tell us cops took a report but Davis was not arrested. So why was Davis in such a crappy mood? Earlier in the night, the Magic lost to Glen’s former squad the Boston Celtics. Sources tell us the hotel has been in contact with the Magic regarding payment for hotel damages. One source tells us the team has already cut a check. We reached out to the Magic — and a rep told us that while the team is aware of the situation and are handling it internally.”

Is there anything this talented NBA rookie can’t do? Here’s Victor Oladipo belting out the Bill Withers classic “Ain’t No Sunshine”, singing alongside The Halfway Krooks at the Spirit of Indiana Showcase for Indiana University Athletics.

Orlando Magic high-flying rookie guard Victor Oladipo says that if the League asks, he’d be interested in competing in this season’s Dunk Contest. Per the Orlando Sentinel: “Magic guard Victor Oladipo told me after the club’s win against the Brooklyn Nets that he would be interested in competing in the slam-dunk contest during All-Star Weekend. Oladipo turned in an eye-opening audition Sunday night, completing a 360-degree dunk off a steal from Nets point guard Deron Williams. ‘My teammates kept telling me to be aggressive. I just listened,’ Oladipo said. Oladipo was the No. 2 pick in the draft behind Cleveland’s Anthony Bennett. Many consider Oladipo the favorite to win Rookie of the Year. He has gotten off to a fast start — but not as fast as Philadelphia’s Michael Carter-Williams. On Monday, Carter-Williams, the No. 11 pick, was named the Eastern Conference’s Player of the Week. The last rookie to win that honor in his first week was former Magic center Shaquille O’Neal, in 1992.”

After posting impressive numbers last year while starting for the Magic, Tobias Harris will have to wait at least a couple more weeks to get back on the court. Harris’ ankle sprain is now being called “severe,” according to OrlandoMagic.com:

#Magic PF Tobias Harris is still weeks away from returning. His ankle sprain 2 weeks ago was a severe one. Not even back practicing yet.